Safety binding with double crank means



Sept. 16, 1969 P. UNGER 3,467,407

SAFETY BINDING WITH DOUBLE CRANK MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 1 WWW Sept. 16, 1969 UNGER 3,467,407

SAFETY BINDING WITH DOUBLE CRANK MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

In new for:

R404 (/NGZA" United States Patent Int. (31. A630 9/08 US. Cl. 280-1135 7Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Safety binding for ski where the bootlatch is linked to the pressure member of the release device formovement of the boot latch with the pressure member longitudinally ofthe ski and for pivotal movement of the pressure member laterally.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to safetybindings for skis. More in particular, the invention concerns safetybindings which are provided with means which effect release of the footin the event of a forward fall, as well as with lateral or torsion fallswhich is actuated by the sole retainer against the effect of a springand in which connection the forward fall release is effected by thelongitudinal displacement of a pressure element. In applicants US.Patent 3,194,573 the release is so arranged that in the event of torsionfalls the pressure member is pivotable about an axis that extendslongitudinally of the ski, whereby the point of contact of the forceapplied by the pressure member against the boot is outside of theaforementioned axis.

In accordance with a further development of applicants earlierdisclosure, the sole retainer or boot latch is provided directly on thepressure member or an offset or crank shaped portion of this component.Inasmuch as the sole holder is swung to the side, as well as upwardly inthe event of a torsion release, although it should maintain itshorizontal position, it must be pivotally disposed on the pressuremember. This pivotal mounting means, for example a rivet, involves thedisadvantage that the sole retainer is inevitably rocked with respect tothe pressure member, so that as a rule it must first be manually movedinto horizontal position before the ski boot can be inserted. Besides,the rotary or rivet connection of the sole retainer with the pressuremember must be somewhat loose for the aforementioned reasons, while arigid, stable mounting of the sole holder is desirable.

While in accordance with the invention the principles of applicantsearlier disclosure are to be maintained, the loose or rotatable joiningof the sole holder is to be avoided. In addition, the invention providesfor use of this type of binding also with automatic heel release meansthat engage the heel of the ski boot.

In accordance with the invention, it is proposed that part of thebinding which is provided with the release mechanism and the pressuremember are encompassed by a housing or casing which is connected withthe part or end of the pressure member that is disposed away from thepivot axis for pivotal or rotatable movement, and also in a manner to becarried along, that furthermore between the binding part and the housinga connection is provided which makes possible swinging of the housing atleast horizontally, and that the sole retainer is mounted firmly on thehousing. The sole retainer is either formed as unitary part of thehousing, for example it may be cast as a unit therewith, or by PatentedSept. 16, 1969 injection molding in plastic form, or it may be mountedrigidly on the housing by means of a threaded connection, or the like.In this manner, the aforementioned shortcomings of a loose or pivotablemounting of the sole 5 retainer or holder are avoided. In addition, theaforementioned binding component, including the projecting end of thepressure member, is fully enclosed by the housing which provides thefurther advantage that the release mechanism is also protected againstthe effect of snow and ice.

The joint or pivot connections of the housing with the pressure memberand the binding make it possible that the housing follows all themovements of the pressure member in the event of torsion or forwardfalls, and that the sole retainer maintains its horizontal position inany position of the housing.

The problem of a rigid connection of the sole retainer with the pressuremember, or with an offset portion thereof can also be solved inaccordance with the invention in a different manner, i.e. in thatsymmetrically with respect to the center longitudinal axis of thebinding two pressure members are disposed parallel to one another, witha sole retainer securely mounted on each of these pressure members.

The binding in accordance with applicants Patent No. 3,194,573, as wellas the improved modifications set forth above may, in accordance withthe invention, be also applied to an automatic heel release whichengages the sole of the boot at the heel and presses against the ski,but which releases as a certain adjustable pressure is applied (torsionor forward falls) and frees the ski boot.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description with reference to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectionof a first embodiment taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2,

FIG. 1a is a partial view showing a modification of the connection ofthe pressure member on the housing,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line II-II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top view of a further embodiment of the invention, where theupper part of the housing has been omitted,

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the sole holder of the embodiment inaccordance with FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V--V in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 a binding component 2 which incorporatesthe release mechanism is threaded onto the ski 1 which mechanism has apressure member 3 with an offset crank-like end 3' that projects fromthe housing of the binding component 2. With respect to the manner ofoperation and the different possibilities of structural form of such abinding and the release means therefore, reference is made to applicantsPatent No. 3,194,573 in order to avoid repetition. This applies also tothe embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 3-5.

In accordance with the invention a housing 4 is provided which ispivotally or rotatably connected with the crank or olfset end 3 of thepressure member 3. Furthermore, the housing is also pivotally connectedwith the binding component 2 or the casing thereof. The offset or cranksection 3' for this purpose may have a further projection, a stud or afurther offset or crank portion 3", and engage therewith a support orbearing configuration in the interior of the housing. This pressuremember 3 with its crank portions 3', 3" may be produced by bending apiece of wire of sufficient strength. A bore 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) mayserve as the bearing configuration. The housing 4 may be provided withpins 6 defining lateral pivot axles, which are slidably guided inhorizontal slots 7 or the like provided in the binding component 2 or inits casing. Instead the guide slot means may also be provided in thehousing and the slidable lateral pivot axles or pins in the bindingcomponent 2 or in the casing thereof. In this manner the housing 4 canbe displaced or is slidable longitudinally of the ski in the event of aforward fall, and in the event of a torsion or lateral fall it ispivotally movable in a horizontal plane (see arrows in FIG. 2) and inthat event is also pivotally movable about the axis of the pins 6, whilethe housing rises and moves also in accordance with the crank portion3". It is apparent that for each of these movements of the housing theprojecting portion 8 that constitutes the sole retainer remains inhorizontal position. In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2this projecting portion may be unitary with the housing 4. It would,however, be possible to provide a separate sole retainer (see FIGS. 3-5)which preferably is threadedly mounted on the housing and in a manner tobe adjustable as to height. Since the crank end of the pressure member 3and the housing 4 are connected for interaction, any force of pressureor rocking of the ski boot is also transferred to the pressure member inthe same manner as disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,194,573.

The support on the inside of the housing may also be in the form of avertical slot 9, as indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 1. Thus, inthe event of lateral moving of the pressure member (torsion fall), thecrank portions 3', 3" can move upwardly in this slot so that the housing4 is not raised at its end that supports the sole retainer 8. In thatevent the connection 6, 7 may be such that it merely permits adisplacement and pivotal movement of the housing 4 in a horizontalplane.

The handling or manipulating of such a binding is also very simple.After a torsion fall it is merely necessary to step with the ski boot onthe top of the housing (see arrow P2 in FIG. 1), whereby the pressuremember is forced to return to its locking or latched position. This issimpler and requires less effort than the pivotal movement of therelatively short crank portion of the pressure member by hand. After aforward fall the housing 4 merely needs to be pulled back into positionmanually (arrow P1). In accordance with applicants aforementionedpatent, the force required for this is very small.

If this binding is used on an automatic heel release, it is advisable toprovide an inclined or oblique surface 8' on the top of the soleretainer or rollers on the boot latch or sole retainer (notillustrated). In this manner it is readily possible to press the heel ofthe ski boot from the top into the binding, whereby the housing 4 movesaside longitudinally of the ski against the effect of the pressurespring in the binding component 2. The sliding of the ski boot out ofthe binding in the event of a forward or torsion fall may also befacilitated by a suitable oblique surface on the sole retainer or byslide rollers.

The arrangement in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 also makes it possibleto construct the casing of the binding component 2 in two parts, inwhich event the hrizontally extending parting plane coincides with thecenter axis of the pressure member. This facilitates the production andthe assembly in that the pressure member is first placed in thecorresponding support of the bottom part, and thereupon the upper partcan be placed on top and connected with the lower part (notillustrated).

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically in a top view a further embodiment withtwo pressure members 10, 11 constructed in accordance with the teachingof US. Patent No. 3,194,573, which are disposed symmetrically andparallel with respect to the center line 12. The housing G is shown witha cut-out A in order to expose the pressure members. A sole retainer 13,14 is securely fastened to each of these pressure members. As shown inFIG. the boot latch is adjustable in height in that toothedinterengaging surfaces are provided between the offset portion 18 of thepressure member which is provided with a guiding slot 15 through whichextends a screw 16, whereby the boot latch may be secured in position.This form of construction may also be used in combination with thehousing shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the event of a forward fall both pressure members 10, 11 move asideforwardly, while in the event of a torsion fall the pressure member thatis in the path of the direction of the boot swings upwardly andlaterally.

This type of binding may also be used as an automatic heel binding whichis provided with the aforementioned oblique surfaces or rollers. Besidesthat, the ski boot with this dual arrangement of the pressure membersmay be especially easily inserted if the upper surfaces of the soleretainer are not only inclined forwardly but also in the direction ofthe center axis. In this manner the pressure members move aside as theski boot is pressed in not only in the longitudinal direction of the skibut also laterally.

It is furthermore possible in connection with both embodiments toprovide a suitably large spherical configuration for the latch againsttorsional fall, so that the pressure member after moving aside returnsautomatically to its initial position, i.e., the retaining position, inresponse to the pressure from the spherical member.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited thereto, butwhat I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is setforth in the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. Safety binding for skis of the type including release means having aspring biased pressure member operative to release the boot, whichrelease means during a forward fall is actuated by the boot latch movingsaid pressure member longitudinally of the ski against the pressure of abiasing spring and during a torsion fall moving said pressure memberpivotally about an axis extending longitudinally of the ski, saidpressure member extending from said release means and having an offsetcrank portion, a housing encasing said release means and said crankportion and having an interior bearing configuration for engagement bysaid crank portion, said housing including a boot latch on the exteriorthereof proximate said bearing configuration, and means definingslidable, lateral pivot axes extending between the walls of said housingand said release means proximate the end of the housing and of therelease means remote from said bearing configuration permittinghorizontal pivotal movement of said housing.

2. Safety binding in accordance with claim 1, where said lateral pivotaxes are defined by horizontally extending slots and pins extending intosaid slots.

3. Safety binding in accordance with claim 2, where said bearingconfiguration is a vertical slot engaged by said crank portion.

4. Safety binding for skis of the type including heel release meansincluding a spring biased pressure member operative to release the boot,which release means during a forward fall is actuated by the boot latchmoving said pressure member longitudinally of the ski against thepressure of a biasing spring and during a torsion fall moving saidpressure member pivotally about an axis extending longitudinally of theski, said binding comprising a pair of release means including pressuremembers disposed parallel to the center axis of the binding and aseparate boot latch mounted on a laterally etxending arm endwise of eachpressure member.

5. Safety binding in accordance with claim 4, where said boot latchpresents a top surface inclined downwardly in the direction away fromthe release means.

6. Safety binding in accordance with claim 4 where said boot latchespresent inwardly and downwardly inclined top surfaces extending awayfrom the pressure members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Pratt. Marker. Unger. Miller.Witschard.

6 1/1967 Reuge et a1. 6/ 1967 Solomon.

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 1958 Austria. 4/ 1965 France. 8/ 1946 Switzerland.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner 10 J. A. PARKER, Assistant Examiner

